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Home > Consulate Service > Visa |
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1.General Visa Information
A) As of April 1, 1998, there is a $45 visa-processing fee for U.S. Citizens except for type-A visa applicants.
Citizens of Japan, Thailand, the Republic of China, the Philippines (for stay in Korea under 59 days), the United Kingdom (for stay in Korea under 6 months), Sweden, Spain, and Italy do not need to pay a visa-processing fee.
Citizens of all other countries must pay a $30 visa-processing fee for a single entry visa.
B) If you plan to stay in Korea for more than 90 days, you must obtain a proper long-term visa.
C) A U.S. citizen does not require a visa for a stay up to 90 days for tour, short term business, provided that he/she has proof of transportation out of the country and sufficient funds for the stay.
- Those arranging the establishment of a branch of foreign corporation or corporation with inward foreign direct investment
- Self-employees who purchase
- Those that are self-employed, and seeking to make purchase
- Those entered for consulting or contract, that were invited by Korean public/private organization
- Those in trade business that seek to acquire knowledge of installation, repair, inspection or operation of machinery(except those being paid for such acts)
- Those that are going to stay for a short period of time for tourism, transit, visiting relative, conference, culture and art, common training, religious ceremony, collecting academical datum, or other similar reasons (Must not be for profit)
D) Please Note: When filling out the visa application form, please type or print neatly. (For a much better printout: (ms-word) (pdf))
E) If you are requesting a visa by mail, be sure to enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope marked with the proper postage to receive your visa(s). For the secure arrival of your visa(s), express mailing services, such as the U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, Federal Express, UPS, DHL, or Air Borne, are recommended.
F)
In regards to work visas, you are required to obtain a certificate number of Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance, except for type C-4 visas.
- If there is a subsidiary company established in Korea, the president of the company- as long as he/she has the necessary documents-can apply for your work permit at the Immigration Office and obtain the certificate number of the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance.
G)
For nationalities other than the U.S., individuals must submit original of their U.S. permanent resident card or valid U.S.A. visa.
2. Required Documents for Visa Application
Regardless of your visa status, these items must be submitted to obtain a visa:
A) A valid passport
B) A completed visa application (ms-word) (pdf)
C) A recent photo(2"x2" color)
D) Fee ($45 for American Citizens, $30 for other nationals(cash or money order only). For more information, please refer to the above section entitled "General Visa Information.")
(By mail: money order only, payable to the Korean Consulate General.)
E) Required Documents
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Status
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Required
Document
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Diplomats
(A-1)
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- Temporary
duty order, statement of employment or official letter from the Foreign Minister to certify his
or her status.
(Those
documents may be replaced by verbal approval when his/her status is
identified by showing his/her identification card, etc.)
* A diplomatic passport is required.
If, however, an individual wishes to fulfill his/her diplomatic duty with a general passport, the individual
and his/her family members would still be included in this category.
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Official
Duty
(A-2)
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-
Temporary duty order, statement of employment or official letter from the Foreign
Minister to certify his/her status (a clear statement declaring that he/she
is on official duty must be included in the letter).
* An official passport or identification card is required.
If,
however, an individual wishes to fulfill his/her diplomatic duty with a
general passport, the individual and his/her family members would still be
included in this category.
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Agreement
(A-3)
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Temporary duty order, statement of employment or official letter from the Foreign
Minister to certify his/her status.
- Invited Contractor: Letter of Employment : CAC Card or millitary ID card is required
* Dependents
- Spouses: copy of marriage certificate and original
- children: copy of birth certificate
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Temporary
News
Coverage
(C-1)
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- Letter
of assignment, statement of employment issued by the employing company of
applicant, or certificate indicating that the applicant is a foreign news
reporter.
- Purpose
of entry and a detailed plan of activities.
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Short-Term
Business
(C-2)
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- Document
verifying that the purpose of his/her visit to Korea is on business.
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Short-Term
Visitors
(C-3)
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- No
documents are required.
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Short-Term
Employment
(C-4)
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-Letter of employment contract.
-Letter of employment recommendaion issued by the head of the relevant central government agency (an entertainer needs a letter of performance recommendation issued by the Korea Media Rating Board), an official letter from the relevant government agency or documents proving the necessity of the applicant's employment).
* English Instructor for Summer or Winter Camp
- Diploma
- Criminal Record (Attached Apostille)
- Employment Contract
- Document regarding Establishment of School or Organization
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Culture/Art
(D-1)
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- Letter
of invitation
- Documents verifying that it is culture and art organization.
* Certificate of an expert's career will be required in the case that the
applicant needs the expert¡¯s instruction.
- Curriculum vitae or certificate of career
- Documents proving the applicant's capability to pay his or her
entire
travel expenses during his or her stay.
* The above-mentioned expert refers
to a person who qualifies as an intangible cultural asset or an individual who
holds a certificate of qualification recognized by a government agency.
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Students
(D-2)
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- Admissions
letter or certificate of registration issued by the president of the college
or university.
- For an individual who is researching at an educational/scientific research
organization:
- Substantiating documents for the research.
- Certificate from the most recent school.
- Letter of personal security assurance (Form 129).
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Technical
Trainees
(D-3)
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- Training
schedule prepared by the research organization.
- Letter of personal security assurance (Form 129).
- Copy of wage or pay ledger.
- A letter of recommendation from the company, and a document which proves
that the company is qualified to hire the applicant.
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General
Trainees
(D-4)
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- Certificate
of training or the admissions letter from the school. - Related documents
verifying the establishment of an educational institution or other special
institution.
- Documents verifying the applicant¡¯s ability to financially support oneself.
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Residence
Reporters
(D-5)
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-
Temporary duty order or statement of employment.
- Related documents proving the establishment of a branch office in Korea.
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Religious
Workers
(D-6)
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-
Temporary mission order.
- Copy of a certificate of the religious organization or social welfare
organization establishment.
- Documents verifying that the relevant organization is responsible for the
applicant¡¯s travel expenses.
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Intracompany
Transferees
(D-7)
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-
Temporary duty order or statement of employment.
- Copy of a certificate of setting up a branch office or liaison office
- Documents verifying achievement of business fund borrowing or copy of
business project.
- Certificate of annual tax.
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Treaty
Investors
(D-8)
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Temporary duty order or statement of employment.
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Certificate of the foreigner's investment report, including a copy of the register
book or certificate of business registration
- Certificate
of registered investment company.
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Treaty
Traders
(D-9)
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Statement of employment.
- Copy of the register book or certificate of business registration.
- Documents regarding business fund borrowing or a copy of the business
project.
- Receipt of annual tax-payment.
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Professors
(E-1)
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-
Certificate of career
- Employment contract or certificate of expected employment
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Teaching
Foreign
Languages
(E-2)
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-
Certificate of academic degree or diploma
- Employment contract
- Documents regarding establishment of school or organization
- Letter of personal reference notarized
- Criminal Record (attached Apostille)
* Interview
- Applicant's Health Staternent (ms-word)
- Consul's Checklist fot E-2 Applicant (ms-word)
- Official Transcript
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Research
(E-3)
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-
Documents verifying the establishment of the inviting organization
- Certificate of academic degree and certificate of career
- Employment contract
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Special
Technology
Instruction
(E-4)
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-
Temporary duty order or statement of employment
- Copy of the approved technology-import contract
- Import contract (or certificate of service transactions) or certificate of
designated military defense industry
- Documents verifying the establishment of a public or private organization
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Speciality
Occupation
(E-5)
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-
Certificate of academic degree and certificate of qualification
- Letter
of employment recommendation issued by the head the of central government
agency or documents proving the necessity of employment.
-
Employment contract
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Art and
Entertainment
(E-6)
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1. Individuals
who wish to participate in performance or
entertainment
activities at tourist hotels and entertainment places require:
- A letter
of performance recommendation issued by the Korea Media Rating Board
- Performance
plan
- Letter of personal
security assurance (Form 129)
2.
Individuals who wish to participate in performance or entertainment activities at tourist
hotels and entertainment places, etc. require:
- A
letter of performance recommendation issued by the Korea Media Rating Board
- Entertainment
activities plan
- Certificate
of qualification or career
- Certificate
of HIV test
- Letter of personal
security assurance (Form 129)
3. All other individuals require:
- A letter of employment recommendation
issued by the head of the relevant central government agency or documents verifying
the necessity of the individual¡¯s employment.
- Certificate
of qualification or career
- Certificate
of HIV test (applied only to those
individuals who wish to participate in
entertainment, sports games and other entertainment activities for the
purpose of profits regulated by provisions of Article 10 of the Enforcement
Decree of the Law on the AIDS Prevention).
- Letter of personal
security assurance (Form 129)
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Particular
Occupation
(E-7)
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-
Certificate of academic degree or certificate of qualification
- Employment contract
- Letter of employment recommendation issued by the head of the relevant
central government agency of documents verifying the necessity of employment
- Documents regarding the establishment of a public or private organization
- Letter of personal reference notarized (form 129)
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Long term
Visiting &
Joining Family
(F-1)
|
1. Individuals
visiting family or relatives who live in Korea require:
- Documents verifying their relationship with their family or relatives (certificate of marriage &
register book or certificate of birth)
- Letter of personal security assurance (Form 129)
-
Persons adopted abroad require a certificate of confirmation or statement of adopting parents (Form 129 not
required)
2. Domestic helpers of diplomats in Korea require:
- Official letter issued by the foreign embassy or consulate
- Employment contract
- Copy of diplomat's ID
3. Foreign students who enrolled in elementary/junior/high school require:
- Certificate of school enrollment or school attendance
- Certificate of adopted person's annual tax-payment
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Accompanying
(F-3)
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-
Documents verifying their relationship with the family (certificate of
marriage and register book or certificate of birth)
-
Statement of employment and certificate of tax-payment
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| 3. Countries Under Visa Exemption Agreements |
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Region
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Country
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Period
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Americas
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Antigua
& Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Brazil
Colombia
Commonwealth of Dominica
Costa Rica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
St. Lucia
St. Kitts & St. Nevis
Vincent & the Grenadines
Surinam
Trinidad & Tobago
United States
|
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
|
|
Asia &
Oceania
|
Malaysia
New Zealand
Singapore
Thailand
Bangladesh
|
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
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Europe
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Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Germany
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latubia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Poland
Romania
Spain
Slovak Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
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90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
* 60 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
* 60 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
90 days
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Middle
East & Africa
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Israel
Lesotho
Liberia
Morocco
Tunisia
|
90 days
* 60 days
90 days
90 days
* 30 days
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4. Transit Traveler
Among the citizens of countries that do not approve entering without holding its visa, except Cuba and Macedonia:
- Individuals who hold re-entering approval from U.S., Japan, Canada, or Australia and pass Korea to go to the U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
- Individuals who stayed in the U.S., Japan, Australia, or New Zealand and their flights land directly in Korea, and are going to their own countries or the other countries passing Korea
Among the citizens of countries that do not approve entering without holding its visa, except Cuba and Macedonia:
- Have a reserved airplane ticket going out of the country within 30 days
- Have no experience in any illegal residence in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
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